Four policemen die in Iraq suicide attack

Two suicide bombers on Wednesday killed four policemen in a police station in the northern city of Mosul, according to Iraqi security sources.

AFP/Ali Al-Saadi

A third bomber was shot dead before setting off his explosives belt. The attack targeted Lieutenant Colonel Shamil Ahmed Oglaq, who commanded a raid last week on the Al-Qaeda affiliate group the Islamic State of Iraq. One of the group's leaders was killed in the raid.

Oglaq and three other policemen died and most of the police station was destroyed in Wednesday's attack.

Suicide bombers had made four previous attempts to kill Oglaq, a policeman said.

The attack comes two days after twin bombings in the western city of Ramadi killed nine people, including four policemen, and wounded 49.

The number of people killed last month was the lowest in a year for the second month running, with 171 people – 105 civilians, 23 soldiers and 43 policemen – losing their lives in attacks.